I’ve been exploring the gray areas of this town. I typically ride generally the same route everyday to the shop. I was getting to certain intersections, stopping, and looking up the cross street as far as I could. Now I take the turn and see where it goes. Connecting the commonly trafficked streets with themselves has been interesting. Discovering where one familiar road leads to another familiar road. “Hey! I’ve been here before.” What’s in between them are the gray areas. Seeing what’s in between them is, for some mundane reason, really neat. This town is still new to me I guess.

Working six days a week tends to limit your leisure biking (as well as leisure anything) so this exploratory “commuting” has been my best method of getting interesting miles in. Generally the same route everyday, but widened per se.

While probably not every mechanic works six days weekly, I have heard of a common theme amongst bike mechanics. The irony that we don’t ride our bikes as much as our customers do. Sort of contradicting in a sense, right? I think it sort of sucks actually. I really enjoy riding my bike, when I’ve had an hectic morning, my ride in clears my head, loosens up the muscles, and generally sets me straight. After the day is done, same deal, hop on and watch the aggravations shake off. It’d be nice to get out and enjoy it in a non-commuter way more often.

Six days makes my weekends pretty short. I’ve managed to get into a routine of cramming in errands, chores, and a relaxing breakfast with my wife on Sunday mornings so that I can enjoy bikes more personally on my “day off”. Typically polo. However, this weekend I’m hoping to enjoy a group ride that’ll really hit up the gray areas of this town, should be a good one.